Bluberry plant named ‘C13-051’

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘C13-051’ is provided. ‘C13-051’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh market. The variety is produced from a cross of unpatented parents ‘FL09-001’ and ‘FL05-383’.

Latin name of the, genus and species:

Genus—Vaccinium.

Species—corymbosum hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘C13-051’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ‘C13-051’ was selected from a population of seedlingsderived from crossing the blueberry varieties known as ‘FL09-001’(unpatented seed parent) and the variety known as ‘FL05-383’ (unpatentedpollen parent). The cross was made in 2009 in Florida, USA and the seedwas sown and grown in Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia. The newvariety was selected in 2013 from among plants located on land atCorindi Beach and assigned the breeding code ‘C13-051’. Plants of‘C13-051’ were propagated by cuttings for further evaluation andresulted to be uniform and stable. The new variety showed distinctivetraits such as evergreen, with fruit of good flavor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Asexual reproduction of the new variety ‘C13-051’ by cutting propagationsince 2013 at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia has demonstratedthat the new variety reproduces true to type plants.

The new variety was selected in 2013 as a single plant within apopulation of seedlings resulting from controlled cross of Vacciniumvarieties. The seedling population was planted in an experimental blockin the field at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia and theselection of the new variety took place in the same block. Selectioncriteria were a combination of early to mid harvest season, similar tothat of the comparator variety ‘C99-042’, low chilling requirement,medium vigour, non-deciduous type of plant (evergreen), large fruitsize, good fruit flavor, and firm fruit. The new variety wassubsequently evaluated for six years at the commercial farm at CorindiBeach, New South Wales, Australia.

The following characteristics of the new variety have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘C13-051’ as a new and distinctvariety of Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid:

-   -   1. Non-deciduous (Evergreen).    -   2. Early to medium season crop    -   3. High yield    -   4. Low chilling requirement, estimated to be between 0 and 300        hours    -   5. Large fruit size, average 3.1 g    -   6. Excellent fruit flavor

The new blueberry variety ‘C13-051’ has maintained its distinguishedcharacteristics throughout successive asexual propagation. The varietyhas been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings inNew South Wales, Australia and the clones are phenotypically identicalto the original plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘C13-051’. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘C13-051’, showing 3 year oldplants growing in a substrate system.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the new variety ‘C13-051’, showing a typicaldense fruit cluster.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the new variety ‘C13-051’ showing thebotanical parts of the plants (ripe fruit, green fruit, flowers andleaves).

FIG. 4 is a photograph showing the large fruit size of the new variety‘C13-051’. In particular the ripe fruit on the bush.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of showing a typical calyx of fruit of ‘C13-051’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited inthe detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of thenew blueberry variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘C13-051’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the originalselection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics areapproximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. For alltraits data was collected from 3 plant parts across 6 randomly selectedplants. For the traits relating to fruits (e.g., fruit weight, firmness,brix, acidity) the data is an average across twenty fruits collectedrandomly. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years ofage, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in CorindiBeach, New South Wales, 2456 Australia. Descriptions of fruitcharacteristics were made on fruit grown in Corindi Beach, New SouthWales, 2456 Australia. Color designations are from the 2007 edition ofThe Royal Horticultural Society (“R.H.S.”) Colour Chart. ‘C12-122’ hasnot been observed under all possible environments. The phenotype mayvary slightly with different growing environments such as temperature,light, fertility, soil pH, moisture and maturity levels, but without anychange in the genotype.

-   Classification:    -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.        -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.        -   c. Species.—corymbosum hybrid.        -   d. Common name.—Blueberry.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unpatented selection ‘FL09-001’.        -   Male Parent.—Unpatented selection ‘FL05-383’.-   Market class: Fresh market.

PLANT

-   General:    -   -   Parentage.—FL09-001 x FL05-383.        -   Plant height.—1.3 m.        -   Plant width.—1.3 m.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Growth.—Medium vigour.        -   Mature cane length.—0.63 m.        -   Mature cane width.—13.8 mm.        -   Mature cane colour.—Grey-brown group, similar to 199A, and            streak of grey-brown 199D.        -   Bark texture.—Medium (texture between rough and smooth).        -   Fruiting wood in length.—31.0 cm.        -   One-year-old shoot's color designation.—Green group, similar            to 138A.        -   One-year-old shoot's average length of the internode.—27.4            mm.        -   Productivity.—High yield, 7.5 Kg per plant (estimated            equivalent production of 16.5 pounds per plant) from            3-year-old plants when growing in 17 L pots at Corindi            Beach, NSW. The plants are spaced at 0.7 m apart along the            row and 2.5 m between the rows, which gives an estimated            plant density of 5700 plants per hectare.        -   Cold hardiness.—Low chill (USDA plant hardiness Zone 4).        -   Cold tolerance.—Low.        -   Chilling requirement.—Low, estimated between 0 and 300            hours.        -   Tolerance to disease.—None assessed.        -   Leafing.—Overall strong and plant retains leaves during the            winter.        -   Twigginess.—Low.

FOLIAGE

-   General:    -   -   Leaf color (top side).—Green group, similar to 139A.        -   Leaf color (under side).—Green group, similar to N138C.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf venation.—Reticulate.        -   Leaf length.—Medium (average 56.2 mm).        -   Leaf width.—Broad (average 34.5 mm).        -   Leaf length/width ratio.—1.6.        -   Shape of the leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Shape of the leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf nectaries.—Absent.        -   Pubescence of upper side.—Absent.        -   Pubescence of lower side.—Absent.        -   Cross sectional profile.—Flat.        -   Longitudinal profile.—Straight.        -   Attitude.—Horizontal.-   Petioles:    -   -   Length.—Average 3.5 mm.        -   Width.—Average 1.48 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow green 144D.

FLOWERS

-   General:    -   -   Time of beginning of flowering.—Early to mid-season (50% of            anthesis estimated to be on the third week in June, on 3            year old plants, cultivated at Corindi Beach, NSW).        -   Flower shape.—Urceolate.        -   Flower fragrance.—None perceptible.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Urceolate.        -   Color.—White group, similar to NN155C.        -   Length.—7.1 mm.        -   Width.—7.9 mm.        -   Aperture width.—3.09 mm.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Absent or very weak.        -   Corolla ridges.—Present, average of 5.        -   Protrusion of stigma.—Present.        -   Corolla/petal texture.—Smooth.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence length.—Average 21.35 mm.        -   Inflorescence width.—19.9 mm.        -   Length of peduncle.—19.98 mm.        -   Surface texture of peduncle.—Medium (texture between rough            and smooth).        -   Color of peduncle.—Base color is yellow-green group 145C,            over color is greyed-red group 182A.        -   Length of pedicel.—8.45 mm.        -   Surface texture of pedicel.—Smooth.        -   Color of pedicel.—Yellow green group 145A and 145C.        -   Number of flowers per cluster.—11.        -   Flower cluster density.—Dense.        -   Flowering interval on one-year old shoot.—July to August.        -   Flowering interval on current year shoot.—July to August.-   Calyx (with sepals):    -   -   Diameter.—4.8 mm.        -   Color of sepal's outside.—Green group, similar to 144A.        -   Color of sepal's inside.—Green group, similar to 144C.-   Stamen:    -   -   Length.—6.06 mm.        -   Number per flower.—10.        -   Filament color.—Similar to yellow-green group 145C.-   Pistil:    -   -   Pistil length (including ovary).—10.08 mm.        -   Style length (including stigma).—8.14 mm.        -   Style color.—Similar to yellow-green group N144B and 145B.-   Anther:    -   -   Length.—3.65 mm.        -   Number.—10.        -   Color.—Similar to greyed-orange group 165A.-   Pollen:    -   -   Abundance.—Abundant.        -   Color.—Yellow group, similar to 10C.        -   Self-compatibility.—Yes, this variety shows a high degree of            self compatibility.

FRUIT

-   General:    -   -   Time of fruit ripening.—Early to mid-season, estimated 50%            of the fruit ripe on the 1st September, on 3-year-old            plants, growing at Corindi Beach, NSW.        -   Plant fruiting type.—One-year-old and current seasons            shoots.        -   Cluster density.—Dense (8-11 berries per cluster).        -   Unripe fruit color.—Similar to yellow-green group 144A.        -   Ripe berry color.—Blue group 103A, when bloom is removed.        -   Berry surface wax abundance.—Weak to medium.        -   Berry weight.—On average 3.1 g.        -   Berry height from calyx to scar.—13.3 mm.        -   Berry diameter.—18.5 mm.        -   Berry shape.—Oblate.        -   Fruit diameter of calyx basin.—Small, on average 4.6 mm.        -   Fruit depth of calyx basin.—Medium.        -   Fruit stem scar.—Large.        -   Sweetness when ripe.—High (14 Brix).        -   Firmness when ripe.—Firm, 180 g/mm, measured with FirmTech.        -   Acidity when ripe.—Medium (0.5%).        -   Berry flesh color.—Yellow-green group, similar to 145C.        -   Storage quality.—Low shelf life, an average of 16 days.        -   Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Not tested.        -   Uses.—Fruit to be hand harvested for fresh market.

SEED

-   General:    -   -   Seed abundance in fruit.—Abundant, on average 29 seeds per            fruit.        -   Seed color.—Greyed orange group 166B.        -   Seed length.—1.8 mm.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR CULTIVARS

Table 1 below provides a comparison between C13-051 and similarcultivars:

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘C13-051’ with similar cultivars ‘C99-42’‘Snowchaser’ (U.S. Plant (U.S. Plant Pat. No. Pat. No. Characteristics‘C13-051’ 20,695P2) 19,503P3) Plant vigour Medium Weak to Medium mediumPlant growth habit Semi-upright Semi-upright to Semi-uprightintermediate One year old shoot Medium Very short to Short length ofinternodes short Leaf length Medium short Long Leaf length (mm) 56.2 ±2.3 53.10 ± 0.8 61.50 ± 0.9 Leaf width Broad Very narrow Broad to narrowLeaf width (mm) 34.5 ± 2 22.9 ± 1.3 34.3 ± 1.5 Flower size of corollaSmall medium Medium Flower corolla length 7.1 ± 0.2 9.7 ± 0.3 9.5 ± 0.3(mm) Fruit cluster density Dense sparse Medium Fruit size Large Small toSmall to medium medium Fruit weight (g) 3.1 ± 0.43 1.9 ± 0.39 1.7 ± 0.21Fruit diameter (mm) 18.5 ± 0.66 15.6 ± 0.96 15.10 ± 0.97 Fruit depth ofcalyx basin Medium Medium Shallow Fruit intensity of bloom Weak to Weakto Weak to medium medium medium Fruit firmness Firm Firm soft Solublesolid content (%) 14 13.1 14 Titratable acidity (%) 0.5 0.4 0.7 Time ofvegetative bud Medium early early burst Time of beginning of Early toEarly to Very early flowering medium medium to early Time of beginningof fruit Early to Early to Very early ripening medium medium to early

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberryplant named ‘C13-051’, substantially as illustrated and describedherein.